Nathaniel j



(No Model) ,N. J. CHEENEY.

GAR COUPLING. No. 281,974. Patented July 24, 1888 lNVENTEJR- N. vrrzmi MwniO r, wax-mm 11c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL J. OHEENEY, OF EAST GREENWIGH, RHODE ISLAND.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,974, dated July 24, 1883. Application filed November 2, 1882. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL J. CHEENEY, of East Greenwich, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Car- Couplings, of which the following is a full and correct description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention consists in making an automatic car-coupling of a knee-shape, pivoted in the draw-head with a pin through the an gle, which allows it to move in a vertical plane. The connecting part of the knee is in a horizontal position, and the angle formed by the horizontal arm and the upper extension of the vertical part of the knee A receives the head of the other coupling when the cars come together and prevents any damage from the couplings overriding each other, and is made at its outer end in an obtuse arrowhead shape, so that when two heads come together one of them shall slide under the other and catch into it; also in making recesses in the head to receive a link and in attaching a chain to the lower part of the knee whereby it may be uncoupled from the top or side of the ear.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the coupling in the drawhead. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the coupling, the headbeing shown in section. .Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.

The coupling is made in the shape of a knee, A, Fig. 3, with a hole, a, at the angle through which the pin b is passed horizontally, by which it is held in the draw-head B. The connecting end of the knee is'made in the shape of an obtuse arrow-head, of whatever breadth horizontally may be necessary for strength. The vertical leg of the knee is of the car, as may be preferred. Two recesses, s s, are made in or through the head of the coupling, one recess above the center-plate and the other below, and ,of proper size to receive the ordinary coupling-link, for the purpose of coupling a car having the improved coupling with one having the usual link, as is some times necessary. The two recesses will accommodate cars of different heights, and the motion of the head up and down allows the link to draw properly at any of the usual heights. A hole, r, is made vertically through the head of the coupling to receive the pin that holds the link. i

The operation of the coupling is automatic. When two heads come together one of them is depressed and slides under the other, which, continuing on, brings up 1 against the projection above the pivot, and this, with the weighted lower end of the coupling, brings the lower head up so as to catch in the upper one. This prevents the necessity for the dangerous operationof going between theears for the purpose of coupling them. the weighted end of the knee is raised by means of the chain j from the top of the car or from one side to'the position shown by the dotted lines, as in Fig. 1, when the heads will clear each other; and another advantage derived from this improvement is that in case of the derailment of a car the lateral movement of one part of the coupling is very sure to disconnect it from the other head, and thus pre- To uncouple the cars,.

vent the next car from being dragged oif of the track.

What I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The knee A, having an arrow-shaped head, made with recesses s s, and the vertical part of the knee weighted at the bottom, and the upper end extended far enough above the pivot on which it swings to serve as a stop to the head of the other coupling, and, in combination with the brace 00, to prevent the horizontal part of the knee from rising above that position.

NATHANIEL G. CARPENTER, EDWARD STANHOPE. 

